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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Looking Back: Consulate Appointment & Some SUPER cute pictures!

One year ago today (these are some of my favorite pictures of her!):

Consulate Appointment...So Close to the Finish Line!

We had our Consulate Appointment this morning. We weren't allowed to
bring in anything with us into the Consulate Building except a few baby
supplies in a clear bag. No watches, no cameras. Wish we could have
taken a picture to document the occasion. Inside, we took an oath as a
group with other adoptive families. Basically we had to promise that
our paperwork is true and that we've held up our end of the bargain for
Maggie's citizenship. Then we had to complete an "interview", which was
basically the handing over of paperwork. It's the last step to get her
Visa tomorrow so we can go home! Our whole trip was planned around
this appointment, so it feels pretty good to have this behind us.

We also went to the pearl market today and got a pearl necklace for both
Allie and Maggie. Pearls here are about the third of the cost of what
we'd pay in the states. They typically give them to girls on their 16th
birthday, so we thought this would be a neat thing for them both.

Both those outings took place before lunch, so we were all fried by the
time we got back. Thankfully we had the rest of the day free, so we
were able to nap and get rested.

This afternoon we walked around the outdoor garden/waterfall area here
on the 4th floor of our hotel, then went over to the outdoor pool area.
We didn't swim, although we could have. It's in the 70s here and the
pool water was very warm. We hung on the pool deck for quite a while.
Maggie got down and crawled around and had the best time. It was the
longest she had played on her own, and she ventured all around and got
dirty and had the best time. So good to watch her play out in the fresh
air versus being cooped up in her crib inside the orphanage.

She was happy yet again today. Playing more, crying less and getting
braver. She also discovered she likes yogurt. She had a little of mine
at breakfast, then had a whole container of her own tonight! I think
after watching us eat she decided to give it a try. She's still trying
to figure out how to do it; her tongue pushes a lot of it back out her
mouth. Then a good amount of it comes back out her nose due to her open
palate. It's unbelievably messy and pretty funny. She doesn't care,
she just licks it off her face as it drips back down into her mouth!
We're going to go thru a lot of bibs and burp clothes at our house
cleaning up after this girl as she eats. I'm so excited she finally ate
real food! She was pretty excited herself.

She also enjoyed her bath tonight instead of crying thru it. I'm
curious to see how she does once we're home. I think she has settled
down into our routine here of hotel living, bus and cab rides, and being
the center of attention. As much as we've enjoyed our time bonding
with her, and this hotel is amazing, we're ready to move on and start
the process of getting home.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is our last day here! We're basically waiting for
our Visa's to come in. We need to start finding a way to get everything
to fit into our suitcases!

Friday is travel day. It will take us about 24 hours to get home,
starting at 5am Friday morning. Here's what getting home will entail:

Two other families in our group will also be on the long flight home
with us. I can't imagine how we're going to survive it, it seems like
such a huge mountain to climb. The flight here seemed like it took days;
now we have to do it with a baby. We didn't get her a seat, but we're
hoping to make use of a plane bassinet, if she'll sleep in it. She
likes to be on the move, so being stuck in the same seats for that long
isn't going to go over well. We appreciate any prayers sent our way for
smooth travels and for safe and on time flights! I'm literally
counting down until I can see all my babies again, so I need flights to
be on time!

It's also a little bittersweet as we prepare to leave her birth country.
We're leaving behind all the sights, smells and culture that she's
accustomed to. We're leaving behind her birth mom, wherever she is. I
can't imagine what she has been thru and we pray for peace for her. We
would love for one day to be able to know her. We're so thankful for
her bravery.